Photographic camera



L.. H. MooMAw ETAL 2,581,691

PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERA 2 SHEETS- SHEET l Jan. 8, 1952 Filed Aug. 19, 194e ATTY.

@VENTURE LEWIS. H. Mmmm/wv HUGE: EEHNZUTT EY 'M fzk m HS \1\\M nu: CJWM \W\ JM m wf, Q mwN A m WN w/ N\ 1 -1 y .m wm L m uw m m 1% UMI/Qm WW /k 1 f N\% f I\)N\ K) Jan 8, 1952 L. H. MooMAw ETAL 2,581,691

PHoToGRAPHrc CAMERA Filed Allg. 19, 1946 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 6 f. 26 2a 6; Lax/15H, Mmmm/wv Humm Er-:HNZUTT ATTY Patented Jan. 8, 1952 i UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE Lewis H. Moomaw, Great Neck, 4N. X., and Hugo Bcrnzott, Niles, Ill., assignors to Bel1,& Howell Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application August 19, 1946, Serial No.691,504

6 jClaims. (Cl, 242-71) Our invention relates particularly to photographic cameras of the successive exposure roll lm loading type involving a casing comprising two casing parts relatively movable to openY and close the casing for the installation and removal of lm rolls and their lm spools, one casing part, say a minor or cover casing part, carrying the film and the film spools and a film spool driving means being provided for taking up the lm on the take-up spool and comprising cooperating clutch members respectively mounted on said casing parts and relatively shiftable vto engage for rotating the take-up .spool from the other easing part, say the main orcamera mechanism carrying ,casing part, when the casing 1 parts are in closed relation and to disengage to permit relative movement of the casing parts for the removal and installation of the film and the film spools, this arrangement being convenient in loading and unloading the camera andproviding for the interchangeable mounting of different minor or cover casing parts, with film and lm spools previously installed thereon, on the main casing part with a View toward facilitating reloading the camera.

The main object of the invention resides in the provision in a camera of the above type of a novel and effective clutch mechanismfor controlling the engagement and disengagement of the aforesaid clutch members so that engagement and disengagement of the clutch members occurs automatically as an incident of opening and closing the camera casing and does not require other attention or elort. Other objects will hereinafter appear.

The invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof and in which- Figure 1 is a partial sectional view of a photographic camera embodying our invention;`

Figure 2 is a partial sectional view substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a partial'sectional View substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a partial top plan view of the camera with parts broken away and shown in section;

Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the latch mechanism of our invention;

Figure 6 is a partial sectional view substantially on the line 6--6 of Figure '7; and

Figure 7 is a partial sectional view substantially on the line 'l-'I of Figure 6.

Referring to the drawing, I and 2 designate respectively a front, main or camera mechanism ycarrying 4casing part of a camera casing, and a rear, .minor or cover casing part of the camera Vcasing which, when` in closed relation with the main casing part, closes an opening 3 at the back `of :the main casing part, as best shown in Figures .3, 4 and 6. The casing part 2 is pivotally lpart I is shown in dot and dash lines in-Figures 2 and'l.

A nlm spool mounting is arranged interiorly of the camera casing and is carried by the casing part 2 in the region of the end thereof opposite that at which this casing part is hinged to the casing part 1I, and comprises as follows:

A horizontal vertically bored support 5 is formed integrally with the lcasing part 2 and, being :disposed adjacent the top of this casing part, projects inwardly therefrom. See particularly Figures 3 and 7. A lm spool carrier 6 extends 7through the bore 'l of `this support and .is mounted on the support for rotation on a vertical axis by means of a bearing generally designated at 8. The carrier-6 is provided with a downwardly projecting axial spindle portion `il engageable into the upper end of the axial bore II of a fllm spool I2y for carrying this end of the spool,- and .is provided with a diametrically disposed clutch formation I3 which is releasably engageable in a cooperating diametrical clutch Vslot I-d at the upper end of the spool for rotating the spool with the carrier.

arm I5,;see Figures v1 and `3, is pivotally mounted, as designated-at I6, for :vertical movement on the' inside 'f the casing part 2, and is spaced below the carrier 6 and projects inwardly from this casing part, .a torsion spring I1, associated with vthe pivotal mounting I6, being operative to actuate the -arm I5 upwardly. A film spool carrierspindle I8 is mounted on the intermediate .portion of the arm I5, as designated at I9, and lprojects upwardly from this arm. The spindle I8V isprovided with an intermediate circumferential ange 2|, and this spindle, being spaced below the spindle portion 9 of the carrier 6, opposes the spindle portion 9 so that the spindle portion 9 andV the spindle II8 are enassioi gageable in opposite ends of the bore II of the spool I2 for the carrying of the lm spool for rotation interiorly of the casing on an axis disposed transversely of the plane of relative movement of the casing parts, the spool being axially conned between the carrier 6 and the flange 2l.

The spring I'I serves to normally maintain the engagement Vof the spindle portion ,9 andthe spindle IB'with the bore of the'spool, and the spindle I8 being axially shiftable, by reason of the pivotal mounting of the arm I5, provides for releasing the spool from the lm spool mounting comprising the spindle portion 9 and the spindle I3 for the interchange of lm spools;l

The casing part I, see Figure 3, is provided interiorly thereof with a projection 22 whichv engages underneath the arm I when the casing parts I and 2 are in closed relation to positively prevent accidental axial shifting of the spindle I8 and release of a mounted film spool as might otherwise lbe caused by the jarring of the camera.

lA second releasable lrn spool mounting, generally designated at 23, see Figure 4,- and generally' similar to the nlm spool mounting above described, is arranged interiorly of thecamera casing, and is carried by the casing part 2 in the region of the hinged end of the casing part 2, and is adapted to releasably carry a second iilm spool 24 for rotation on an axis parallel to Athat of the film spool I2.

A photographic film 25, initially wound on the spool 24, is extended across between the spools "24 and I2 and is wound in a roll 26 on the spool I2 for the progressive exposure of the film in Y'the camera, the spool 24 thus constituting the feed spool, and the spool I2 thus constituting the take-up spool and beingV rotated to progress the film. Between the spools 24 and I2, the film Ypasses through the exposure guide of the camera,

whichf'comprises a front guide plate 21 provided with an exposure aperture 28 and carried 4by the casing part I and a rear guide plate 29 carried by the casing part 2 and spring urged forwardly by springs 3I to press the portion of the film in the guide against the front guide plate 21 and maintain it at the focal plane of the Icamera.

v--tating reloading of the camera, the pivot pin 32 of the hinge 4 being removable for this purpose. Y

Cooperating with the hinge 4 to'releasably secure the casing parts I and 2 in closed relation,

is a latch arranged at the ends of the casing vpartsA opposite those at which the hinge is disposed and which will now be described.

' A vertically extending latch member 33 is secured by screws 3 4 on the casing part 2 exterior- `1y, thereof and is provided with vertically spaced"V "upwardly extending latch lugs 35. See particularly Figures 2 and 5. A cooperating vertically yextending latch member 36 is mounted on the lcasing part I 'movement kas Vhereinafter described,` and is proexteriorly thereof vfor vertical vided Awith vertically spaced downwardly extending latch lugs 3'I which, assuming the casing v'parts Vto bein closed relation,'engage the latch lugs 35 of thelatch member 33 when the latchV member 36 is in its lower position, as shown in 4 Figure 2, to secure the casing Iparts in closed relation, and which are disengaged from the latch lugs 35 when the latch member 36 is in its upper position, as shown in Figure 5, to permit relative movement of the casing parts out of and into closed relation.

Vertically spaced headed screws 38 are screwthreaded into the casing part I and, extending through a, marginally flanged cover plate 39 and respectively through bored and flanged bushings -'4I, secure the cover plate and bushings on the c casing part I exteriorly thereof with the bushmember 33 when the casing parts are in closed relation.

The latch member 3,6 is provided with vertically spaced and extending slots 42 which are respectively slidablyzengaged by the bushings 4I so that this latch member is mounted on the casing part I for'vertical movement into and out of latching position relative to the latch member 33 of the casing part 2. A vertically disposed elongated slotted member 43 has the lower end of its slot engaged by the lower bushing 4I, and a vertically disposed compression spring 44 has its upper and lower ends respectively engaged against the upper end of the member` 43 and the latch member 36 and serves to actuate this latch member'V into its lower or latching position as shown in Figure 2. A stud 45, see particularly vFigures 1 land 5, extends through a Vertical slot 46 through the cover platet39 and is secured in a hole 4I through the latch member 35, and is provided With a manipulating head 48 on the exterior of the cover plate so that the latch member 36 may be manually actuated into its upper or latch releasing position against the inuence of the spring 44 for opening the camera casing.

A latch member 5I, arranged between the casing-part I and the latch member 36, is pivotally mounted on a stud 52 secured on this casing part for` movement corresponding with the plane of relative movement of theY casing parts and is pro- Yvided with a latch lug 53 positionable in and out of engaging relation with a downwardly facing latch shoulder 54 on the latch member 35 with 'pivotal movement of the latch member 5I. A Ytorsion spring 55 encirclesthe stud 52 and, re-

acting on the casing part I, serves to actuate the Vlatch member 5I to position the latch lug 53 in engaging relation with the latch snomder 54 to latch the latch member 33 out of latching position 'or in its upperposition. A lug 56 on the latch member 330i 'the casing part 2 projects therefrom in the direction toward the latch member 5I and is adapted to abut a flange 5l on Ythe Alatch member 5I, and the lug 56 and the flange 57 form a one-way abutment connection 'operative between the casing part 2 and the latch horizontal partition 6I of and disposed upwardly Within this casing partjand a shaft 52 is slidably engaged in the bore of the gear 58 and is rotatably secured therewith, as designated at 53, downward movementof this shaftb'eing limited by a collar 64 secured on the shaft and bearing down- Wardly on the gear 58. See particularly Figure 7. Y A clutch member 65 is secured on the lower end of the shaft 62 for rotation therewith, and a compression spring 66, disposed coaxially or and surrounding shaft 6'?. 'and a flanged sleeve 6l' secured with the gear 56 and bearing upwardly on this sleeve and downwardly on the clutch member 65, urges this shaft and clutch member downwardly.

When the casing parts l and 2 are in closed relation, the clutch member 65 is disposed above and coaxially of the carrier 6 and the nlm spool l2 carried on the spindle portion 9 andthe spindle I8, and the clutch member 65 is provided with a downwardly projecting clutch lug 68 which is engageable downwardly into any one of a plurality of clutch recesses 69 of the carrier 6 when this clutch member and this carrier are in coaxial relation and this clutch member is moved into its lower position by the spring 66, the carrier 6 thus constituting a clutch member cooperating with the clutch member 65 for rotating the take-up spool l2 to wind the film 25 thereon, and these cooperating clutch members, which are arranged within the casing, form a part of the take-up spool driving means. Movement of thegclutch member 65 and the shaft 62 Vto their upper position disengages the-clutch member 65 from the clutch member or carrier 6 so that the casing parts l and 2 vmay be relatively moved from closed relation to open relation, and visa versa, it being observed that these cooperating clutch members are respectively carried by the casing parts l and 2 The gear 56 is the i'inal drive gear of a driving mechanism for driving the take-up spool l2 from the mechanism of the camera for automatically intermittently progressing the iilm as it is progressively exposed', such a driving mechanism being described and claimed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,350,695A issued June 6, 1941i, on application led by us.

A manually actuable bored knob -1 l, see Figure '1, is slidably and rotatably mounted on 'the exterior of the casing part l in coaxial relation with the shaft 62 by means of a bushing 12 secured in the bore ofthe knob and slidably and rotatably mounted on another bushing 13 secured on the upper Wall of the casing part l. A circular spring 14 is engaged in a circumferential groove 15 on the bushing 13 and expands outwardly against the bore of the bushing 12 and is alternately releasably engageable with axially spaced circular grooves 16 and 11 in the bore of the bushing r'iii to predeterminately position the knob'respectively in lower and upper axial positions thereof.

A clutch disk 18 is secured on the upper end of the shaft 62 within the knob 1| and is provided with peripheral 'clutch lugs 19, and the upper end of the bushing 12 is provided with radial clutch recesses 8|. In the lower position of the knob 1I, as shown in Figure 7, the clutch disk 16 is disposed above the bushing 12 so that the knob is free to rotate independently of the shaft 62 with the result that accidental rotation ci the knob does not cause rotation of the 'takeup spool I2. In the upper position of the knob 1I, the lugs 19 of the clutch disk 18 are engaged by the recesses 8| of the bushing 12 so that rotation of the knob effects rotation of the take-up spool I2 to wind the' film 25 thereon, the knob being thus adapted, where the camera has an automatic lm advancing mechanism, to be uti- 6 lized to manuallyvwind the leaders of the nlm on the'take-up rspool l2 without necessitating operation of the camera mechanism as incidents of loading and unloading the camera.

A bifurcated arm 82, within the casing part l, embraces the spring 66 and has its bifurcated nd pivotally mounted, as designated at 83, on:y is casing part and .on a .horizontal axis to lone side of theaxis of. the clutch member 65 and the. other end of thisy arm is disposed adjacent the latch member 36. See .particularly Figures 1, 6 and 7. The intermediate portion of the arm 62 is provided with lugs 8'4 disposed in diametrically opposite relation with. the clutch member 65 and underlying a circumferential flange on this clutch member so that upward movement of the arm 82 effects upward movement of this clutch member against the influence of the; spring l66 and out of engagement with the carrier or 'clutch member 6. A lug 86 on the latch member 36 extends inwardly of the casing part l through a vertical slot 81 through the Wall thereof and underlies the adjacent end of the arm 82 to upwardly abut the same so that upward movement ofthe latch member 36 into its upper or. latch releasing position eifects upward movement of the arm and consequentl upward movement of the clutch` member 65 out of engagement with the carrier or clutch member 6 to permit relative movement of the casing parts out of closed relation and visa versa, the lug 86 and the arm 82 forming a one-way abutment connection so thatin the event that when the casing parts are moved into closed relation and the clutch lug 68 of the clutch member 65 does not register v with a clutch recess 69 of the carrier or clutch member 6, the resultant holding of the clutch member 65 in an upper position does not interfere with movement of the latch member 36 into latching position. In such case the clutch member 65 is subsequently actuated into clutching engagement with the carrier or clutch member 6 by the spring 66 when the clutchv member 65 is rotated, as by the knob1l, suciently to register the clutch leg 68 with a clutch recess 69. Y

Assuming the casing parts l and 2 to be secured in closed relation, the latch. member 36 is positioned in its lower position by the spring 54 with the latch lugs 31 engaged with the latch lugswis of the latch member 33, the latch member 5i is positioned against the iniiuence of the spring 5 5 with the latch lug 53 out of engaging relation with the latch shoulder 54 by the lug 56 abutting the ange 51, and the clutch member 65 is positioned by the spring 66 in clutching engagement with the carrier or clutch member 6. This conditionis illustrated in full lines in Figures 1 to 4 and 6 and 7.

Upon manual release of the latch memberv 36 from the latch member33 by manually moving, by means of the manipulating headv 48, the latch member 36 to its upper position against the influence of the spring 44, the clutch member 65 is disengagedv from the carrier or clutch member 6 by the lug 56 movingk the arm 82 upwardly and with it the clutch member 65 against the influence of the spring 66, andthe latch member 5I is actuated by the spring 55 so that the latch lug 53 moves into engaging relation with and under the latch shoulder 54 to latch the latch member 36 in its upper position or out of latching. position, this latter operation being permitted by partialv separation of the casing parts. This condition is illustrated in dot and dash lines in Figures 1 and 2.

V As the casingparts are moved from open rela'- tio'n into closed relation, 'the lug`56 abuts the flange l andactuates the latch l'outof latching position and disengages the latch lug 53 from the latch shoulder 54 upon final relative moveme/nt'of the casing parts into closed relation, whereupon the latch member 36 is moved downwardly bythe spring 44 into latching position and the clutch member 65 is moved downwardly by the spring 66 into clutching engagement with .the carrier orclutch member 6.

yWhile we have thus Adescribed our invention, we do'not. wish to be limited to the precise details described, as changes may be readily made without departing from the spirit of our invention, but having thus described our invention, we claim asV new and desire to secure by Letters Patentthe following:

j 1. Ina photographic' camera, the combination' lwitlria'casing camprising two casing parts relatively movable lto open and close said casing for the installation and removal of a lm spool, of 'a r-iilm spool mounting arranged interiorly of said 'casing and carried by a iirst of said casing parts 'andiadapted to releasably carry a lm spool for rotation interiorly of said casing, iilm spool driving means comprising cooperating rotatable 'clutch members arranged interiorly of said casing members respectively with movement of said latch member into and out of latching position.

2. In a photographic camera, the combination with a casing comprising two casing parts relatively movable to open and close said casing for the installation and removal of-a lm spool, of Va nlm spool mounting arranged interiorlyv of said `casingand carried by a first of said casing parts and adapted to releasably carry a film spool for rotation interiorly of said casing, lm spool driving means comprising cooperating rotatable clutch members arranged interiorly of said casing "and respectively carried by said casing parts and one ,of said clutch members being mounted on the second of said casing parts for movement to Vengage and Vdisengage the other'of said clutch "members, a manually releasable latch operative to latch said casing parts in closed relation and including a latch member mounted on said second casing part for movement into and out of latching position, clutch control means loperative between said movable Vclutch member and said latch member to engage and disengage said clutch members respectively with movement of said latch member Yinto and out of latching position, a second releasable latch operative'on said latch member to latch the same out of latching position and including a movable latch member mounted on said second 'casing part for movement into and out of and Yspring urgedV into latching position, and latch releasing means including an abutment element 'on said rst casing part and operative to actuate '.said second mentioned latch member out of latchingposition upon final relative movement of said casing parts into closed relation.

3. In a photographic camera, the combination with a, casing comprising two casing parts relatively movable to open and close said casing for the installation and removal of a lm spool, of a lm spool mounting arranged interiorly of said casing and carried by a rst of said casing parts and adapted to releasably carry a iilm spool for rotation interiorly of said casing, lm spool driving means comprising cooperating rotatable clutch members arranged interiorly of said casing and respectively carried by said casing parts and disposed coaxially when said casing parts are in closed relation and the clutch member which is carried by the second of said casing parts being axially shiftable to engage and disengage said clutch members and spring urged into engagement with the other clutch member, a manually releasable latch operative to latch said casing parts in closed relation and including a latch member mounted on said second casing part for movement into and out of and spring urged into latching position, clutch disengaging means operative between said latch member and said shiftable clutch member to disengage said clutch members with movement of said latch member out of latching position and comprising a oneway abutment connection, a second releasable latch operative to latch said latch member out of latching position and including a movable latch member mounted on said second casing part for movement into and out of and spring urged into latching position, and latch releasing means including an abutment element on said rst casing part and operative to actuate said second mentioned latch member out of latching position upon final relative movement of said casing parts into closed relation.

4. n a photographic camera, the combination with a casing comprising two casing parts relatively movable to open and close said casing for the installation and removal of a nlm spool, of a film spool mounting arranged interiorly of Said casing and carried by a first of said casing parts and adapted to releasably carry a iilm spool for rotation interiorly of said casing on an axis disposed transversely of the plane of relative movement Yof said casing parts, film spooly driving means comprising cooperating rotatable clutch members arranged interiorly of said casing and respectively carried by said casing parts and both being disposed coaxially of said spool axis when said casing parts are in closed relationv and the clutch member which is carried by the second of said casing parts being axially shiftable to engage and disengage said clutch members, a manually releasable latch operative to latch said casing parts in closed relation and including a latch member mounted on said second casing part for movement into and out of latching position, and clutch ucontrol means operative to engage and disengage 'said clutch members respectively with rmovement ofsaid latch member into and out of latching position and comprising a connection n `.between said latch member and said axially shiftable clutch member.

5. In a photographic camera, the combination with a casingcomprising two casing parts relatively movable to open and close said casing for "the installation and removal of a nlm spool, of .a film spool mounting arranged interiorly of said Ycasing'and carried by a rst of said casing parts and adapted to releasably carry a lm spool for rotation on an axis disposed transversely of the plane of relative movement of said casing parts, film spool driving means comprising cooperating 5 ivrotatable clutch members arranged interiorly of said casing'a'nd respectively carried by said casing parts and both being disposed coaxially of said spool axis when said casing parts are in closed relation and the clutch member which is carried by the second of said casing parts being axially shiftable to engage and disengage said clutch members, a, manually releasable latch operative to latch said casing parts in closed relation and including a latch member mounted on said second casing part for movement into and out of latching position, clutch control means operative to engage and disengage said clutch members respectively with movement of said latch member into and out oi' latching position and comprising a connection between said latch member and said axially shiftable clutch member, a second releasable latch operative to latch said latch member out of latching position and including a movable latch member mounted on said second casing part for movement into and out of and spring urged into latching position, and latch releasing means including an abutment element on said rst casing part and operative to actuate said second mentioned latch member out of latching position upon nal relative movement of said casing parts into closed relation.

6. In a photographic camera, the combination with a casing comprising two casing parts relatively movable to open and close said casing for the installation and removal of a lm spool, of a lm spool mounting arranged interiorly of said casing and carried by a rst of said casing parts and adapted to releasably carry a film spool for rotation on an axis disposed transversely of the plane of relative movement of said casing parts, film spool driving means comprising cooperating rotatable clutch members arranged interiorly of said casing and respectively carried by said casing parts and both being disposed coaxially of said spool axis when said casing parts are in closed relation and the clutch member which is carried by the second of said casing parts being axially shiitable to engage and disengage said clutch members and spring urged into engagement with the other clutch member, a manually releasable latch operative to latch said casing parts in closed relation and including a latch member carried by said second casing part and movable in parallelism with said spool axis into and out of and spring urged into latching position, clutch disengaging means operative between said latch member and said shiftable clutch member to disengage said clutch members with movement of said latch member out of latching position, and comprising a. one-way connection, a second releasable latch carried with said second casing part and operative to latch said latch member out of latching position and including a latch member mounted on said second casing part for movement into and out of latching position in correspondence with relative movement of said casing parts and spring urged into latching position, and latch releasing means including an abutment element on said first casing part and operative to actuate said second mentioned latch member out of latching position upon final relative movement of said casing parts into closed relation.

LEWIS H. MOOMAW. HUGO BERNZOTT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the tile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,196,601 Smeby Aug. 29, 1916 2,350,693 Moomaw et al June 6, 1944 

